MIAMI SHORES – Pridelines Youth Services, South Florida’s oldest LGBTQ service agency, has been selected as one of seven South Florida agencies to benefit from the Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride Twenty Thirteen (The SMART Ride 10), said Victor Diaz-Herman, executive director of Pridelines. The goal of the 10th anniversary Miami to Key West bike ride fundraiser is to raise $1 million.

“We couldn’t be more honored or excited to be chosen as a beneficiary of The SMART Ride 10,” said Diaz-Herman. “We’re the only Miami-Dade County beneficiary, so we hope to become the hometown hero for the local riders. This opportunity will undoubtedly take our organization to the next level as we continue providing LGBTQ youth services, especially around HIV/STI programming.”

The SMART Ride 10 is unique in that it allows participants who raise funds through sponsorships to designate which organization benefits from a portion of their individual fundraising efforts. The remaining balance of all funds collected is divided equally among the seven charities. The SMART Ride 10 organizers guarantee that 100% of the money raised will go back to HIV/AIDS work in the Florida community. In nine previous years, the ride has raised a total of $4.2 million.

Last year, each organization benefitted from a donation of more than $100,000. Diaz-Herman said that Pridelines will use the money it receives this year to provide funds to support its existing “Sex Talk” program, an HIV/STI prevention and education program, while allowing the agency to become its own designated testing site that will serve both youth andthe community at large. Additionally, Pridelines intends on using funds to create additional psycho-social support programming for HIV infected individuals.

The SMART Ride 10 takes place November 15th and 16th, 2013 and will travel 165 miles from Miami to Key West over the course of two days. To learn more about the ride, visit www.TheSmartRide.org.

To support Pridelines Youth Services as it raises the $9,000 application fee, visit http://smartride.ezregister.com to donate or contact Diaz-Herman for more information on how to get involved.

Pridelines Youth Services is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created by gay youth for gay youth and their allies in the wake of Anita Bryant’s “Save Our Children” campaign. Pridelines’ mission is to support, educate and empower South Florida’s LGBTQ youth in a safe and diverse environment as well as to foster dialogue and cultivate social change. For 32 years, Pridelines has provided safe space, social support, skills building, leadership development and referrals to mental health, health care and support services for LGBTQ youth and their straight allies between the ages of 13 and 24.

Pridelines is located at 9526 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 104, in Miami Shores. For more information about Pridelines, call (305) 571-9601, or visit www.pridelines.org.